Abstract: A power cutoff circuit is added to the protector network disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,772 so that when an interruption in power occurs, at least one suppressor remains connected to a load even though a source is disconnected from the load. In one embodiment, the power circuit includes a control circuit connected to the supply lines between an "upstream" suppressor and a filter portion of the network.

Abstract: Electronic circuit breakers safeguard a load connected to a power supply against damage from overload conditions. These circuit breakers interrupt flow of overload currents to the load by instantaneously reducing flow of such current from the power supply to the load to a harmless residual current when that electric current flow exceeds a predetermined value. These breakers also avoid downtime after cessation of such a condition by electronically monitoring that residual current to determine when it is safe to restore electric operating current flow to the load. Flow of electric operating current from the power supply to the electronic equipment is restored in response to the latter determination. Preferably, the monitored residual current is used for automatically switching the electronic circuit breaker and the flow of electric operating current electronically back on, when the electronic monitoring has determined that the overload condition has ceased to exist.

Abstract: Polarized shear wave surveys are performed to determine azimuthal variations in the earth's subsurface caused by fracture orientation and density. The surveys may be done by using the same polarization (either horizontal or vertical) shear waves along two different seismic lines of profile, or by using different polarization shear waves along one common line of profile. The survey data are then processed and compared; any differences constitute a measure of fracture orientation and density. Subsurface zones of high fracture density, once identified, have been found to afford a higher likelihood of successful well completion.

Abstract: Protective relay for use in an electrical power system having electrical conductors which are energizable with an AC voltage. The protective relay includes a circuit for sensing the AC voltage to produce an AC output that has zero crossings and a time period between zero crossings, a circuit for supplying an electrical signal representing a preselected pickup value of volts-per-Hertz for the relay, and a circuit responsive to the AC output and to the electrical signal for generating an electrical level as a function of both the time period and the pickup value and for producing an output signal for the relay when the AC output exceeds the electrical level. In this way, the output signal is produced when a volts-per-Hertz value of the AC voltage exceeds the preselected pickup value of volts-per-Hertz for the relay. Other protective relay apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An overcurrent shut down circuit for use in a switching regulator power supply comprised of circuitry for detecting the average current of a pulse width modulated input signal, comparing the average current with a predetermined threshold level and reducing the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal to zero thereby shutting off the power supply, in the event the detected current exceeds the threshold level, indicating excess current being drawn from an output circuit of the supply. Time delay circuitry is provided for resetting the shut down circuit and restoring the regulator to normal operation after a predetermined amount of time as elapsed subsequent to the power supply being shut down. The overcurrent shut down circuit provides for recovery from CMOS latch-up and other excess current drawing fault conditions without requiring that the power supply be manually turned off. The circuit is of straightforward and inexpensive design and occupies very little circuit board area.

Abstract: A switch transistor (V1) has a controlled pathconnected in a circuit (P-Q) to be switched, and Control signals are supplied (ID) to its control electrode to switch it on. If, in the ON state the potential difference across the switch exceeds a threshold value, trip means (T1) are actuated to turn the switch transistor off. To prevent premature tripping, delay means R2, C3 disable the trip means (by holding off T3) for a short period following switch on, but is arranged so as not to delay the trip action once that period has expired.

Abstract: A microprocessor based recloser control including a independent memory is disclosed. The independent memory is alterable by processor means and by input and output means independent of the processor means. The independent memory is non-volatile and requires little energy to alter its contents. Events which would otherwise be ignored when the processor means is disabled, because of an insufficiency of power for reliable operation, are recordable in the independent memory.

Abstract: An electric current-limiting circuit breaker comprises a pair of separable contacts and a selective solid state trip unit including an actuator cooperating with a latch mechanism for actuating the contacts to a positive open position upon occurrence of an overcurrent condition. The movable contact may also be moved by electrodynamic repulsion towards the open position when the fault current exceeds a predetermined threshold to effect current limiting. A tripping control device has an electronic counter which counts successive opening and closing cycles of the contacts so as to trip mechanism after a given number of cycles. The trip unit further comprises a first time delay tripping circuit, and a second instantaneous tripping circuit which cooperates with the cycle counter so as to ensure either instantaneous tripping or tripping by counting up to a number of cycles preselected on a setting selector.

Abstract: A protection circuit for limiting the sound pressure level provided by transducer loads, such as headphones, in which there is provided interconnections between the input to the transducer load and the transducer load such that when loudness exceeds a predetermined limit, the connection to the transducer load is opened and the circuit turns off the audio signal to the transducer load and optionally illuminates an LED. After a predetermined time interval, the circuit automatically resets; however, if the sound pressure level has not been reduced below the predetermined limit, the circuit again immediately turns off the audio signal to the transducer load and this is continued until such time as the sound pressure level is reduced below the predetermined limit.

Abstract: A synchronism check relay includes both a high set and a low set slip cut-off circuit. The low slip cut-off setting is based upon the maximum slip frequency that can be tolerated and still allow reclosing. The high slip cut-off setting is a function of the maximum phase angle difference permissible between the voltages on the bus and line sides of the circuit breaker, and the time that the line is de-energized.

Abstract: A d.c. motor, particularly a paper-feed drive motor for printers, is monitored and controlled (e.g., for protection against paper jamming) by controlling a motor switch to turn the motor off temporarily when excess current is monitored, but turning it on to probe persistence of the condition. This turn-on will remain short if, indeed, overload current conditions are still present. The circuit includes a bistable multivibrator with input circuit rendering it monostable for normal operating conditions and astable for the overload case.

Abstract: Switching device for the short-circuit and overload protection of a power switching circuit, including an input, an output, a first AND gate, a power amplifier, a current limiter circuit and a current sensor connected in series between the input and output, the first AND gate having an inverting input, a threshold value switch connected to the current sensor for producing a current sensor-shaped signal to be fed to the inverting input of the first AND gate, a digital switch-in retarder for delaying the arrival of the current sensor-shaped signal at the inverting input of the first AND gate by producing a given switch-in time lag for blocking the first AND gate until a given switch-off time lag has run out in case of short-circuits and overloads, the digital switch-in retarder including a second AND gate having a first input, a second input, a third inverting input and an output, and a first counter being after-connected to the second AND gate and having a pulse timing input, a resetting input and an output, t

Abstract: A circuit tester is disclosed which automatically open-circuits a main lead to an input circuit in response to an excessive overcurrent. The circuit tester of the present invention will automatically sense the existence of an excessive current which, in turn, open-circuits a main lead to the input circuit, actuates a buzzer and energizes a light-emitting diode. Since the main-lead to the input circuit has been open-circuited, the base voltage at a first transistor drops. This renders this transistor non-conductive and tends to cause the main-lead to the input circuit to short-circuit. This tends to restore the circuit tester to its initial condition. However, if the excessive current is continuing, the above sequence will re-commence, the sequence continuing until the excessive current no longer exists or until the tester is adjusted to a higher range of operation.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed that provides a delay of operation until a piece of equipment reaches operating temperature. The circuit automatically adjusts the delay time to provide only the time necessary for warmup should there be a short outage of line power causing only partial cooling of the equipment. By proportioning the warmup delay time to the time of power loss, the equipment outage can be minimized. The proportionality between the warmup delay time and the time of power loss can be either linear or non-linear depending on the specific application.

Abstract: The disclosed protector comprises a three electrode gas tube overvoltage protector serially connected with a heating element, the combination being connected in shunt across the load to be protected. Between that protecting shunt path and the source, a normally closed switch is provided which is responsive to the heating element and opens in the event of a sustained overvoltage condition. Accordingly, a prolonged surge which might otherwise destroy the gas tube and/or the protected load is isolated from both the shunt protection branch and from the load thus preventing damage to both.

Abstract: A self-powered solid state overload relay having current transformers energized by current to a motor to be protected. The transformer has secondary windings connected through diodes to charge a capacitor in a circuit which senses the magnitude of motor current and capacitors in a trip-reset circuit which causes the circuit to be interrupted when the motor current exceeds a pre-programmed value. The diodes in capacitor charging circuits are poled so that the capacitor in the sensing circuit and the capacitor trip-reset circuit are charged by opposite polarity rectified half wave current pulses.

Abstract: A series current limiting circuit for intermittent current flow when the current exceeds a predetermined limit. A time delay circuit is incorporated to maintain the interrupted condition for a predetermined additional time after initial interruption before returning the circuit to an ON state whereby it can be determined if the conditions causing overload have been removed.